HB 2030
AN ACT relating to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies existing Texas law regarding affirmative defenses in criminal cases involving potentially obscene or child-harmful material. It removes the term "educational" from certain legal exceptions and adjusts conditions under which defendants can claim affirmative defenses in specific criminal prosecutions, primarily related to age differences and professional context. The changes provide more precise legal standards for determining intent and circumstances in cases involving material or conduct potentially harmful to children.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain criminal offenses involving material or conduct that may be obscene or is otherwise harmful to children. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 43.24(c), Penal Code, is amended to read (c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the sale, distribution, or exhibition was by a person having scientific, [educational,] governmental, or other similar SECTION 2. Section 43.25(f), Penal Code, is amended to read (f) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this (1) the defendant was the spouse of the child at the (2) the conduct was for a bona fide [educational,] medical, psychological, psychiatric, judicial, law enforcement, or (3) the defendant is not more than two years older than SECTION 3. Section 43.26(c), Penal Code, is amended to read (c) It is an [The] affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the conduct was for a bona fide judicial or law enforcement purpose [defenses provided by Sections 43.25(f)(2) and (3) also apply to a prosecution under this section]. SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Law Enforcement and related subject areas.
Beverly C. Cornwell
PremiumMichael J. Johnson
Allison Billodeau
Sarah Hicks
Ky Ash
Andria Baum
David H. Cain
Ashley Michelle Juergens
Elizabeth Hadley
Matthew Bentley
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to affirmative defenses to prosecution for certain
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